Bustling Beach
The Sunday Age
Sunday May 28, 2000
ON the Whitsunday Coast, Airlie Beach has grown into a bustling resort village. New four-star accommodation is coming on line all the time and the entertainment strip, Shute Harbour Road, is bursting with restaurants, bars, cafes, nightclubs and live entertainment.
This picturesque town, backed by rainforest mountains and fronted by the Coral Sea, is also the heart of a big range of activities. Tours leave daily to the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef.
Popular day-tour spots include Langford Reef and Whitehaven Beach, a six-kilometre stretch of white, silica sand. There are also day tours to the hinterland rainforest, while the wildlife park has an amazing crocodile show.
There are walking trails through the rainforest in Conway National Park and the energetic might like to walk to the top of Mount Rooper and look out over the islands.
On the coast at Airlie Beach, a variety of water sports is available. It's also a great place to learn scuba diving. Nearby Whitsunday Airport boasts a fleet of light aircraft that can fly you over the islands and even drop you off at a secluded beach with a picnic hamper.
Sporting activities on the mainland include tennis and bowls. There are three golf courses within driving distance, including the highly rated Turtle Point golf course at Laguna Quays Resort.
The sugar cane town of Proserpine, with its historical buildings and friendly pubs, is also certainly worth a look.
© 2000 The Sunday Age
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